New cricket format launched

A new format will be in vogue when matches in the Wairarapa Cricket Association's Bidwell Cup competition get underway tomorrow.
Each team will now play three two-day matches and five one-innings matches with the top two teams meeting in a two-day final on March 12 and 13.
Hours of play for the two-day games will be from 12 to 7pm, with a minimum of 100 overs being bowled in a day. Sessions will run from 12 to 2.10pm, 2.30pm to 4.40pm and 5pm to 7pm.
Bonus points will be awarded on the first innings (first 60 overs) only with one point for 150 runs or two wickets, two points for 175 runs or four wickets, three points for 200 runs or six wickets, four points for 225 runs or eight wickets and five points for 250 runs or nine wickets.
A first innings win will be worth five points, a first innings loss no points, a first innings tie three points and a no result three points. Teams winning outright will earn 10 extra points, while an outright tie will be worth five points.
Hours of play for the one-innings games will be 12 noon to 7pm with a minimum of 104 overs in a day.
Breaks in play will come after 40 overs and 60 overs, although if a team is dismissed or declares close to that time then the breaks should be taken then.
The team batting first must declare at no more than 60 overs unless they declare earlier or are all out, two-day fielding restrictions and wides apply and a bowler may bowl a maximum of 15 overs in an innings.
Bonus points for the one-dayers are one point for 150 runs or two wickets, two points for 175 runs or four wickets, three points for 200 runs or six wickets, four points for 225 runs or eight wickets and five points for 250 runs or nine wickets.
Also in the one-dayers, an outright win will be worth 10 points, a tie five points, a winning draw (the team batting first has the higher score and has not completely dismissed the team batting second) five points, a losing draw (the team batting second has scored less runs than the team batting first but is not all out) three points, a no result (play is abandoned before the second innings commences) three points and an outright loss no points.
It should be noted, too, that the incoming batsman is required to cross with the outgoing batsman on the field. If that does not occur the umpire shall issue a first and final caution. Any further incidents and the umpire shall award five penalty runs to the bowling side.
Tomorrow's Bidwell Cup games will be played over one innings, with Rathkeale up against Lansdowne and Greytown meeting Wairarapa College.
Lansdowne will start hot favourites to beat Rathkeale, particularly after their comfortable win when the two teams met in an Umpires Cup match last weekend. The loss of an injured Sam Curtis will weaken Lansdowne. Lansdowne skipper Henry Cameron is looking forward to the new format of the game and notes it will give teams with less depth the chance to bowl their better bowlers longer.
Rathkeale captain Ben Foster has been happy with the way his bowlers have been performing and is looking for greater consistency from his batsmen.
Greytown have enough quality players capable of match winning performances with either bat and ball to make success over Wairarapa College a likely prospect.